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NFL Playoffs News and Notes

1/11/2014 8:14:23 AM

The Carolina Panthers listed Steve Smith as questionable for Sunday's NFC Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers, though head coach Ron Rivera was optimistic the veteran wide receiver will be on the field come Sunday. Smith sustained a PCL sprain in his left knee during Carolina's 17-13 win over NFC South-rival New Orleans on Dec. 22 and sat out the club's regular-season finale at Atlanta as a result.Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart and defensive tackle Colin Cole are also questionable for Sunday's game, though Stewart seems likely to return from a knee injury after practicing fully this week. San Francisco's only notable injury concern is starting cornerback Carlos Rogers, who sat out practice for a third straight day Friday with a hamstring strain that also kept him out of last Sunday's opening-round win at Green Bay. The 49ers officially termed him questionable on the final injury report.

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San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews sat out a third consecutive practice on Friday, placing the team's leading rusher's status up in the air for this weekend's AFC Divisional Round game against the Denver Broncos. Mathews exited the Chargers' 27-10 victory at Cincinnati in last Sunday's Wild Card Round in the second half after aggravating a previous ankle sprain. The team listed him as questionable on Friday's final injury report. The San Diego Union-Tribune, citing a club source, reported Friday that San Diego plans on having Mathews, who rushed for a career-best 1,255 yards during the regular season, available for its clash with the top-seeded Broncos.

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New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas is questionable for Saturday's NFC game against the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas missed last Saturday night's 26-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round, where the Saints ran for 185 yards. Thomas, who was limited in practice Thursday and Friday after being held out of Wednesday's session, played in all 16 regular season games, rushing for 549 yards and two touchdowns. He was hurt in the Saints' regular season finale against Tampa Bay. Saints defensive end Akiem Hicks is also questionable because of an ankle injury. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that wide receiver Percy Harvin will play Saturday. Harvin, who was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in an offseason trade, played in just one game this season after missing most of it following hip surgery.